Twee strijdende soldaten te paard 1873

George Hendrik Breitner created this pencil drawing titled "Twee strijdende soldaten te paard" – or "Two Fighting Soldiers on Horseback" – sometime during his lifetime, which spanned from 1857 to 1923. Breitner was deeply embedded in the military culture of the Netherlands, having served as a volunteer in the army. His personal experiences and beliefs shaped his artistic focus. He was particularly interested in capturing the dynamism and intensity of military life, and these themes are clearly represented in his sketch. The artwork offers a glimpse into the gendered and nationalistic dimensions of military culture. Consider the role of men as soldiers, celebrated for their strength and bravery, as well as the concept of warfare as a crucible for forging national identity. Breitner invites us to contemplate the human cost of conflict, and the relationship between individual experience and broader historical narratives.